Storage facility for over 900 Army vehicles completed at MOD Ashchurch

Global delivery consultants and construction experts, Mace have project managed the delivery of an advanced storage facility with capacity to house over 900 Army vehicles at MOD Ashchurch under the Vehicle Storage and Support Programme (VSSP).

As the largest Army infrastructure programme currently in delivery, VSSP is enhancing operational readiness and future capability through provision of modern, sustainable storage and maintenance solutions for the Army’s vehicle and equipment fleet.

The programme is delivering dedicated inspection and maintenance facilities, essential office space and Controlled Humidity Environment (CHE) storage, which will reduce vehicle maintenance costs and unnecessary deterioration caused by extreme drops or rises in temperature.

The largest CHE storage building on site, which is equivalent in size to around five football pitches (c.25,300m²), has been handed into service, with the first vehicle rolling into the facility on 3 March.

Belinda Lunn, Senior Responsible Owner of VSSP said:

“The handover of this new CHE storage building is a fantastic milestone in our programme to deliver this exceptional facility for the Field Army. This is the fifth building to be completed under VSSP in the past year and represents a step change in the capability of the site. We look forward to further progress over coming months as we continue our collaboration with DIO and industry partners, to improve working infrastructure for personnel at MOD Ashchurch.” 

VSSP is being delivered for the Army by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) contracting to Skanska for construction and Mace as project manager. Overall, the programme will deliver 13 new buildings alongside demolition of 58 existing buildings and renewal of site-wide infrastructure. All buildings adhere to the latest sustainability standards and support the Army’s contribution to government net zero targets, with provision to generate solar energy on site.

Warren Webster, DIO MPP Programme Director – Army said:

“It is always gratifying to celebrate a significant milestone for a complex construction project. The excellent progress we’ve made at VSSP has been achieved thanks to the collaborative effort of the DIO, Army, Skanska and Mace project teams, and their supply chain. We are proud to be delivering modern, sustainable infrastructure that will meet the enduring requirements of the Army’s fleet and benefit military personnel.”

Graham Seage, Director of Defence and National Security at Mace, said:

"The completion of this state-of-the-art storage facility is a significant step forward in ensuring the long-term resilience of the British Army’s estate and assets. The level of collaboration across all partners to reach this milestone has been first rate and, importantly, has extended to teams working across the wider defence estate, drawing on lessons and experience from around the DIO portfolio to drive efficiencies and innovations.” 

MOD Ashchurch is owned by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) and VSSP is due to complete at the site in 2027.

Photo Credit - Skanska.